The Hammer Gallery • by Janice Kovar & Paul Enright • 1

Hamilton Arts & Letters         “I'd say the wildest thing about The Hammer was the location, as you know in the early 90's King and James was pretty grim and it certainly wasn't a destination, which of course is why the rent was so cheap and people like us were able to rent these huge spaces.” says Denise Lisson as she looks back on the history of the Hamilton art scene in the early 1990’s. And of course, she is absolutely right in her reflections of the city, once known across Canada as an industrial centre throughout the 20th century. However, when production and employment declined dramatically in steel town, many of those living in Hamilton that relied on the steel industry found themselves either out of work, and/or underemployed. Specifically, the downtown core of Hamilton was also experiencing a higher than usual vacancy rate, with many shops and services closed, or just hanging on. Amongst all of this uncertainty, the Hamilton arts community began a slow resurgence of creativity. With the downturn in the local economy, low rents, and large vacant open spaces becoming available, James St. N. became a burgeoning hub for all forms of the visual arts, as well as musicians, theatre performers, poets, and writers. In all of this grittiness, uncertainty, and energy, Denise Lisson and Jim Mullin opened The Hammer Gallery on 10 James Street North, on the third floor of a typical downtown core building.    [  >>>>>   FORWARD ]   + [Distillate © HA&L + Janice Kovar & Paul Enright {from the Greek bios} -- the course of a life.]